Women's Commission welcomes "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address"
*********************************************************************************
The Women's Commission (WoC) welcomes the initiatives on promoting women's development in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" delivered by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (October 25).
The Chief Executive announced in the Policy Address that the Government will set up a dedicated Women Affairs Team under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and designate the post of Commissioner for Women Affairs to focus on work related to women affairs. Key initiatives for the coming year include launching a one-stop family and women information portal, organising the first Family and Women Development Summit, and introducing a maintenance mediation pilot scheme through the Community Care Fund.
The Chairman of the WoC, Ms Chan Yuen-han, said, "I am very delighted to learn that the Government has attached great importance to women’s development and that it has taken into account suggestions from the women sector to set up the post of Commissioner for Women Affairs, so as to better facilitate the promotion of women’s development. I am also pleased to know that the Government will introduce a maintenance mediation pilot scheme to assist parties concerned to resolve disputes through mediation. The new initiatives mentioned in the Policy Address would not only facilitate the Government to formulate more focused measures in supporting women’s development and promoting family education, but would also assist women to overcome different challenges that they may encounter in life."
It is also mentioned in the Policy Address that the HYAB will continue to encourage women’s groups and NGOs to utilise the Women Empowerment Fund (WEF) under the WoC to facilitate women to unleash their potential and achieve self-enhancement. In addition, the Greater Bay Area Exchange Programme under WEF will be regularised in 2024-25 and a new dedicated scheme will be introduced to encourage women to participate in community services.
Ms Chan said, "The 2023-24 first-round application of the WEF was very well-received. Over 80 projects were approved with funding to organise activities. Regularising the Greater Bay Area Exchange Programme in 2024-25 will provide more opportunities to broaden women’s horizon, whereas the introduction of a dedicated scheme to encourage women to participate in community services will facilitate relevant organisations to run specific projects that aimed at empowering women and facilitating their contributions to the society."
The WoC was established in 2001. Its mission is to enable women to fully realise their due status, rights and opportunities in all aspects of life. To further promote the well-being and rights of women, it adopts a three-pronged approach that entails the provision of an enabling environment, the offering of training to enhance women's capacity, and the implementation of public education.
Ends/Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:00
Issued at HKT 20:00
NNNN